Printing telegraph apparatus



Aug. 14, 1945.

M. T. GOETZ PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l iii nvb @mm K Z E o G T S U R U A M 1945 M. T. GOETZ PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Aug.

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M. T. GOETZ PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 20. 1941 lll FIG. 6

INVENT OR. MAURUS T. 'GOETZ FIG. 7

Patented Aug. 14, 1945 PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Maui-us T. Goetz, Chicago, 111., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application September 20, 1941, Serial No. 411,665

14 Claims.

This invention relates to printing telegraph apparatusand more particularly to signal recording and repeating apparatus and switching mechanism controlled thereby.

An object of this invention is to provide a telegraph apparatus that will receive and store telegraph signal combinations, record the characters represented thereby, and redistribute the signal combinations to other locations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a transmitting mechanism controlled mechanically by a control strip and having a complete signal overlap.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switching mechanism selectively responsive to switching signals in a control strip.

A further object of this invention is to provide a strip controlled circuit selecting mechanism responsive to switching signals-preceding a message to determine the .communication channel over which the message'signals are routed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in a telegraph apparatu a plurality of transmitting devices controlled simultaneously by a common control strip-and flexibly arranged to be associated with one or' more communication channels whereby a signal message may be distributed over one or more channels.

In communication systems, particularly those in which messages may originate in. any of a number of substations to be transmitted to certain of the remaining substations, it is frequently the practice to transmit the message to a central oflice for rerouting or retransmission to the desired substation. In such a system, the message is customarily stored as it is received,'preferably in a record tape, until the necessary retransmission channels are selected and conditioned. The

'retransmission channels are generally conditioned manually through plugs and jacks or semi-automatically through relay circuits. After the message channels have been established, the stored message is applied thereto and transmitted directly to the desired substation, if a through connection is available, or to a further central oilice for relaying to the desired substation. At each message relaying point or central office, there is provided a message receiving and storing mechanism, such as a printing reperforator, manually or relay operated switching mechanism for establishing message channels, and a message redistributor, such as a tape transmitter, adapted to be associated with the determined channels.

This invention features a telegraph apparatus which may be utilized in communication systems to facilitate and expedite message transmission between substations and which includes within one compact unit a printing reper'forator, a plurality of transmitters and entirely automatic switching mechanism. Telegraph signal combinations receivedby this apparatusv are recorded in a control tape and a sensing device'senses the tape and conditions the retransmitting distributors in accordance with the received signalfcombinations to retransmitthe message. The switching mechanism of this apparatus o erates under the control of the same tape and sensing device in response to switching signal combinations re ceived from the originating substatian preceding the message signal combinations to establish the necessary communication channel to direct the message to the desired substation.

As a further feature there is provided in accurdance with this invention aplurality of trans: mitting devices associated with a common s'ens-' ing mechanism, affording aflexible arrangement for signal redistribution. One transmitting device is associated with the automatic switchin mechanism to be selectively connected thereby into one of several communication'cha-nnels and another transmitting device, disassociated from the switching mechanism,- mayfbe connected to another channel. Either -,or bothof the transmitters may be employed to redistribute the received message over-one jormore channels.

This invention also features a device included in the telegraph apparatus to render the switch-'- ing mechanism selectively operable; jthat'is, to enable the switching mechanism when switching signal combinations are being sensed bythe sensing device, and to disable the switching mechanism when message signal combinations are being sensed. The switching mechanism includes a holding device operable to maintain a communication channeldetermined by the operation of theswitching mechanism in response .to received switching signals and to preclude further switching functions'until the determined chane nel has been released by a predetermined operation of the switching mechanism.

Communication systems employing apparatus which embody the features of this inventionmay operate rapidly and automatically to'relay a message froman originatingsubstat-ian-tothe desired substation. For :such automatic operation a series of switching signal .eombinationslis transmitted from the originating substation-toestablisn the necessary oommuinoation channel-to the desired substation th-rough' theoperation of-the automatic switching mechanismp Thereafter, message signal combinations from theoriginatlng combinations and print the character represented thereby on a control strip. The printing reper forator includes a pro-punch unit to prepare feed holes in the strip operated concomitantly with the code perforating unit with each cycle of rota' tion of a selecting cam drum of the printing unit. The cam drum is adapted to be manually released for continuous rotation to feed a desired length of the tape or control strip through the operation of the feeding devices of the perforating units. From the reperforator, the control strip passes into the sensing or transmitting device to control that device in accordance with received signal combinations stored in the tape.

The sensing or transmitting device, being of the pivoted type, is movable with respect to the reperforator and may, therefore, probe each signal combination including the last stored in the tape by the code punching unit. When the sensing device has been conditioned in accordance with a complete signal combination in the control strip, a transfer device operates to transfer the setting of the sensing device to a plurality of code bars and to restore the sensing device to its initial condition preparatory to another sensing operation.

Each code bar is associated with a locking latch of a cam type transmitting distributor and the code bars when they have received a setting of the sensing device, establish the setting on the contacts of the distributor so that the signal is retransmitted by the distributor while the sensing device is performing the next succeeding sensing operation and through this arrangement complete signal overlap is provided. The code bars condition automatic switching mechanism as well as the transmitting distributor to perform switching functions to determine the channel into which the distributor transmits in response to received switching signal combinations.

The automatic switching mechanism includes a plurality of switching function levers which in response to the permutable setting of the code bars permit selective operation of the switching mechanism. In order to restrict the operation of the switching mechanism to only those settings of the code bars that represent switching signal combinations, a device including a plurality of control bars serves to hold the switching function levers normally nonresponsive to the settings of the code bars. When a switching operation is to be performed, a predetermined signal combination is set up in the code bars by the control strip and this conditioning of the code bars is effective to operate the blocking device and render the switching function levers responsive to subsequent settings of the code bars. After the desired switching functions have been accomplished, the control tape establishes another predetermined condition in the code bars that restores the device into lever under the control of a switching signal, the" retransmitting distributor is associated with a determined communication channel for transmission thereover. As the channel is selected and associated with the distributor, a holding circuit is conditioned which maintains this association and precludes the establishment of other channels until the holding circuit is dumped preparatory to accomplishing another switching function. Accordingly, if signal combinations included within the repeated message condition the switching mechanism to respond to the operation of the code bars, switching functions will not be accomplished and the determined channel will not be disturbed.

A second retransmitting distributor which is free from the control of the automatic switching device is provided and may transmit into any channel, as for example one leading to a supervisory position, with which it may be electrically associated. The sensing device also controls this distributor, the control being effected through the agency of contact operating fingers integrally formed with each sensing element. The contacts operated are connected serially with the corresponding cam operated contacts of the cam type distributor and determine the transmitted signal combination in accordance with the sensing device as it is conditioned by a signal combination stored in the control strip.

The sensing or transmitting device has a tape out pin that is operated cyclically with the code sensing pins to interrupt the operation of the transmitter at a predetermined point in message signaling, as determined by a special perforation in the tape, or when the tape supply is broken or exhausted. The transmitter is also equipped with a tape feed suppression device operable to arrest the tape feed through the transmitter so that a given signal combination may be transmitted several times in succession.

The pivoted transmitter is movable with the tape and when there is a predetermined length f tape intermediate the transmitter and reperforator a locking device, which serves to form this length of tape into a depending loop, locks the transmitter rendering it immovable with respect to the reperforator. Under the continuous operation f the transmitter, this length of tape will eventually be shortened and finally the tape will engage the locking device and move it out of engagement with the transmitter permitting the transmitter to approach the reperforator to sense every code combination in the tape.

blocking relation with respect to the switching Many features included' in the disclosure of the present application are also disclosed in copending application Serial No. 411,660 filed September 20, 1941 by R. A. Lake and Serial N0. 412,829 filed September 29, 1941 by E. A. Gubisch.

For a more complete understanding of the foregoing objects and features of this invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description which is to be interpreted in the light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a portion of a telegraph apparatus embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a. detailed view, in section, of the tape feed suppression device and control bar of the automatic switching mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, taken approximately along lines 4-4 of Fig. 1 to show the transmitting cam assembly;

Fig. is a detailed View illustrating the release magnet assembly including the transmitter release magnet and a distributor release magnet;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the lines 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of the electrical circuit associated with the automatic switching mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a schematic of the electrical circuit of the transmitter release magnet.

The apparatus disclosed in the drawings embodies the several features of this invention and may be considered as including the following principal units and associated driving mechanisms; a printing reperiorator unit IS, a tape sensing unit l6, a retransmitting distributor IT, a retransmitting distributor I8, and an automatic switching device IS. The several units are supported by a base casting 2|.

Printing reperforator The printing reperforator [5 included in the apparatus under consideration is substantially the same as that printing reperforator which is the subject of a copending application filed in the name of Ross A. Lake, Serial No. 274,796 filed May 20, 1939 and for a more complete understanding of the structure and mode of operation of this unit, reference may be had to the aforementioned copending application which is incorporated herein by reference. Since the unit under consideration is substantially the same as that disclosed in the above-identified copending application, the description of that mechanism to be set out hereinafter will be of a general nature and will be detailed only in the description of those features of the present unit which are different from features in the above-identified copending application.

v A printing platen 22 is located in the front and central portion of the reperforator and is associated with an improved platen shift mechanism which is the subject of a copending application Serial No. 420,802, filed in the name of R. A. Lake on November 28, 1941,.which matured into U. S. Patent No. 2,339,785, dated January 25, 1944. An inking ribbon 23, Fig. 2, is directed thereover in well-known manner from ribbon supply reels 25 (only one of which is shown). A plurality of type bars 24 (only one of which is illustrated), is positioned in an arcuate path about and to the rear of the printing platen 22 and are articulated to their supports in a manner to permit their striking forwardly and downwardly into cooperation with the platen to effect printing. A plurality of pull bars 26 (only one of which is shown) is assembled to the rear of the type bars 24 and is adapted to operate the type bars through a gear and rack connection (not shown). The pull bars are normally urged against a series of notched code bars 2'! which are semi-circular in shape and which may be conditioned in various permutable settings by means of a selector mechanism 28, (Fig. 1, of the sword and T-lever type, shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,745,633) to bring into alignment the notches on the code surfaces so that the pull bars may be individually selected for operation. A continuously operating driving motor 29 carries on its shaft 3| a gear 32 which. meshes with a gear 33 carried on the main shaft 34 of the reperforator to drive the-.reperforating mechanism; a selecting cam sleeve (not shown) is rotatably supported upon continuously rotating shaft 34 and is adapted to be driven therefrom through a suitable friction or slip clutch.-

A receiving magnet (not shown) is adapted to be conditioned in response to received line ignals to release the friction clutch and causethe rotation of the selecting. cam sleeve from drivingshaf t 34 in a, manner set out indetail in the aforementioned patent. The cam sleeve is thereupon rotated at a speed substantially synchronous with the speed of the code impulsing so that the energization of the receiving magnet in response to marking andspacing code signals may be effective through the-selector 28 to condition the individual code bars 21 in a clockwise or counterclockwisedirection inaccordance with a received code signal combination. The permutable setting of the code bars 21 results in the selection of one particular pull bar 26, depending upon the alignment of the code notches in code bars 21, andwith the selection thus determined the code bars are locked during the printingoperation by means of .a locking bar 36, Fig. 1,.througn its engagement with locking notches 35 provided in each of the code bars. The locking bar 36', which has the samegeneral contour as pull bars 26, is moved into and out of locking engagement with code bars 21 bymeans of the printing bail 31, Figs. 1 and .2, as it is raised and lowered. The printing bail 31 issuitably articulated to a bail operating plunger '38, Fig. 1, slidably mounted within a guide sleeve 39, and. plunger 38 .is controlled by meansof a cam (not shown) on the main shaft 34. The precise operation of the printing mechanism including bail 31 fromthe main shaft 34 isset. out in detail in said aforementioned patent;

.When the..=bail 31 is in its lowermost position under'thecontrolof plunger 38, itcooperates with beveled surfaces 41, Fig. 2; on the plurality'of pull bars 26 tohold the pull bars out of engagement with code bars 21 sothatthe code bars'may be readily shifted in accordance with the operation of the selector mechanism 28 under the control of received code signal impulses. When the printing bail 3'! is operated upwardly to perform the printing operation, the bars 26 and 36 due to --their cam surfaces 4| are permitted to be actuated gradually toward the code bars 21 by their individual springs. Pull bars 26 are provided with a hook projection 42 which cooperates with the printing bail 31 when a pull bar is permitted by the alignment of notches in the code bars 21 to be operated by its biasing spring into the path of ball 31 whichin its upward movement engages hook projection 42 to lift the pull bar, and through the rack and pinion engagement with the type bar causes the type bar to rotate about its pivotand bring the type face downwardly to impinge upon platen 22. The locking bar 36 is not provided with a hook portion since its function is merely to rock on its pivot into and out of locking engagement with code bars 2! under the control of bail 31 to retain the permutable setting of the code bars during the printing operation. For a more comprehensive and detailed description of the printing operation performed by the printing reperforator, reference may be had to the aforesaid Patent No. 1,745,633 which is specifically di rooted to a printing mechanism of the type incorporated in the rinting reperforator unit. I

For the purpose of controlling code punches in the reperforating operation to record the codecombination ina tape as well as print the corresponding character on the tape, there is provided a plurality of hell cranks 46, Figs. 1 and 2; one associated with each code bar and pivotally supported upon a stud 4-1 which is mounted a supporting plate 48 secured to the frame of the reperforating unit. Each of the .bell cranks, is provided with a. projecting finger 49 adapted to overlap the locking bar 36 and be operated there-. by :toposition thebell cranks46 in a counterclockwise direction as the bar 36 under the infiuence of bail 31 is cammed out of locking engagement with code bars 21 preparatory to conditioning the code bars in accordance with a received code signal combination. The bell cranks are biased in a clockwise direction and each is provided with a shoulder portion 5| which performs a sensing operation on the associated code bars 21 when locking bar 36 under the control of.

bail 31 is moved into thelocking notch 35 releasing the bell crank to respond to their clockwise bias. If a code bar is in its counterclockwise position, as indicated in Fig. ,1, the shoulder portion 5| of the associated bell crank 46 will be clear of thetcode bar and when locking bar 36 responds to the bail 31 and enters lockingnotch 35 as shown, the bell crank 46 will be permitted to assume its clockwise position. However, in the event that a code bar is in its extreme clockwise position, looking bar 36 would engage the alternate locking notch on the particular code bar and that bar would be positioned in the path of its associated bell crank 46 so that when looking bar 36 has moved into engagement with the alternate locking notch 35 releasing the particular bell crank 46 for rotation, that rotation will be restrained. Accordingly, through the cooperation of the. individual code bars 2'! and the blocking shoulders 5| of the bell cranks associated with the particular code bars, the permutable setting of the code bars is transferred to the plurality of bell cranks 46 when those bell cranks are permitted to sense the positionment of the code bars as locking bar 36 is moved into a locking notch 35.

The frontward portion of supporting plate 48 as viewed in Fig 1, is slotted to provide a comblike structure whichguides a plurality of vertically disposed pivoted levers 52 which are pivotally supported upon a stud 53, Fig. 2. carried in support member 48. The levers 52 which areguided by the comb portion of member 48 project into'the path of operation of bell cranks 46 and each lever 52 is controlled by one of the bell cranks 46. The lower ends of levers 52 cooperate with and control a series of bell cranks 54 pivoted on a pivot shaft '55, Fig. 2, secured to the casting 63. Bell cranks 54, in turn, extend beneath the horizontal portion of a second set of hell cranks 56 pivoted on shaft 51 supported in the perforator casting 63. The bell cranks 56 are normally urged in a clockwise direction by means of individual springs 66 which springs also serve through the engagement of bell cranks 56, bell cranks 54, pivoted levers 52, and bell cranks 46 to impart a clockwise bias on each of the bell cranks 46. Pivotally articulated to the vertical arms of hell cranks 56 are a plurality of punch interponen'ts 58. Interponents 58 are guided by a comb out in a flanged portion 6| of a cradle member 62 pivotally supported by the casting 63 of the printing reperforator and serving as the punch operator as will appear hereinafter. The pivot forcradle member 62 is in substantial alignment with the pivotal connection between the interponent members 58 and the vertical arms of bell cranks 56. This, pivot point is indicated 64. Through the-mechanical linkage above described, each permutable-setting of the code bars 27 is transferred when lock-, ing bar 36 assumes its locking relation with re-,

spect to the code bars, to the interponents 58 to permutably-condition the, interponents with respect to code punches 66, Fig. 2.

Locking bar 36, in being retracted from a looking notch 35 preparatory to setting up a signal combination in code bars 21, rocks bell cranks 46 in a counterclockwise direction and through the mechanical linkage described, similarly rocks bell cranks 56 and advances all interponents 56 leftwardly. After the code bars have been set, locking bar 36 releases bell cranks 46 permitting the interponents 56 to be selectively moved from their normal, leftward position. If any of the bell crank levers 46 is held in its counterclockwise position by the engagement of its locking shoulder 5! with its associated code bar 21, the corresponding interponent 58 through the mechanical linkage. above described is retained in its leftward position in alignment with its code punch 66. However, if a bell crank 48 is permitted to assume its clockwise position by its associated code bar 21, its spring 60 is effective to shift its associated interponent 58 to its rightward position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, out of alignment with punches 66. The connection between the selector mechanism 28 and code bars 2! is such that when a marking impulse is received a code bar is moved to its clockwise position, the associated interponent 58 is retained in alignment with its code punch 66 and conversely, when a code bar is positioned in it counterclockwise position in response to the reception of a spacing impulse, its associated interponent is shifted from its normal position and moved out of alignment with its associated code punch.

A punch block 61, Fig. 2, secured to the reperforator casting is suitably apertured to receive in a slidable manner the code punches 66 which project through the punch block and a guide comb 68 formed in the leftward extremity of a punch stripper bail 65 that is pivoted on the same pivot studs as cradle 62. A spring 10 is secured to a depending projection of bail 65 and a spring post (not shown) located on the perforator casting and serves to urge the bail in a counterclockwise direction to withdraw the code punches from their operated positions. The code punches have a limited downward travel, being limited by a yoke member 15, Fig. 2, that depends from the code punch 61 and which is overlapped by the leftward extremity of comb 68. The punches 66 are flattened or hammered out at their lower extremities to provide suitable shoulders beneath comb 68 so that as cradle 62 i rocked in a counterclockwise direction, comb 68 may under the influence of spring 10 withdraw punches 66 to their lowermost positions. The front surface of the punch block is at an angle inclined to the vertical for a purpose which will be hereinafter described, and the top surface H is at an acute angle with respect to the axes of the punches to provide an inclined path for a tape through the punch block. The front surface of the punch block is chamfered back to the apertures which accommodate the code punches to prevent the accumulation of tape chips over the code punches. The punch elements 66 may be associated with the punch block 61 in much the same manner as disclosed in detai1 in the first mentioned copending application and that detail will not be repeated here.

Disposed above the punch block 61 is a die plate 12 and there is provided in the die plate a die sector for each code punch located in punch block 61. The die sectors are similar to the die openings described in detail in the first mentioned copending application and illustrated in particular in Fig. 6 thereof at I01, the construction being such that the cooperation of a die punch with such a die opening will produce a lidded aperture in the tape. The bottom surface of die plate I2 is cut at such an angle that, when the die plate is assembled into a punching unit with punch block 61, the lower surface thereof will define with the upper surface II of the unch block, a tape guideway for directing a tape to be perforated at an angle to the top surface of the code punches 66. With this construction, the lidded aperture is provided in the tape through a shearing rather than a blanking operation;

that is, with the tape lying at an angle across each perforating operation and because of theangular relationship of the tape and code punches, the lagging edge of the lid is forced well above the tape web and into the die plate while the neck of the lid is not raised appreciably. A plurality of stripper pins I4 is provided to remove the lids from the die plate at the end of each perforating cycle. Secured to the die plate I2 is a pivot pin I6 upon which is pivotally supported a plurality of spring operated levers 'I'I operated by compression springs 18 to depress the stripper or ejector pins I4 at the end of each perforating cycle and eject the lids from the die plate. The compression springs I8 are held between a frame member '19 secured to die plate I2 and a projecting lug extending from each of the levers I1. In each perforating cycle, the operated code punches 66 project into the sector openings provided in die plate I2 and force the strippe pins I4 upwardly and at the completion of the perforating cycle, the code punches 66 are retracted from the die plate by comb 68 rendering the levers I'I operative under the influence of springs I8 to depress the ejector pins I4 and eject the lids from the die plate. The code perforating punch block described above forms no part of the present invention but is the subject of U. S. Patent No. 2,255,794, filed in the name of R. A. Lake and reference may be had thereto for a more complete disclosure of the punch assembly.

A feed wheel 8|, Fig. 2, provided with sprocket teethto engage feed perforations in the tape and feed the tape through the code perforating mechanism, is rotatably supported within the punch block on a shaft 82, Fig. 2, and is stepped intermittently by means of a feed pawl 83, Fig. l, pivotally supported on a lever 84 which is secured by screws 85 to cradle member 62 and engages a feed ratchet B6" with each operation of the cradle 62 in I and 2, which is adapted to be reciprocated vertically in a feed hole punch block 92 by means of a bell crank 93 pivoted on stud shaft 94 and provided with a fork shaped extension member 96, the tines of which engage beneath the flared upper end of the punch BI and confine the head of the punch between the fork member andthe bell crank so that the punch is reciprocated as the bell crank is oscillated about pivot 94 Feed pins 98, Fig. 1, are secured to a shaft!" rotatably supported in the pre-punch unit and provided at one end with milled ratchet teeth 99 to be engaged by a feed pawl IN to intermittently advance thepins 98 and cause the feed of the tape by the engagement of pins 98 with the feed perforations-invariably providedin the tape-by the pre-punch 9|. A star wheel I02 and detent I03 are provided for holding the feed shaft intermediate the feeding strokes of pawl IOI. A spring pressedguide I04, Fig. 1, of the general contour ofshaft 9! presses the tape against the feed pins to assure positive tape feed from the pre-punch in the direction of the printing platen and code perforating point.

By providing a lore-punch for perforating feed holes in the tape and independent feeding mechanisms at both the pre-punch and code punching units, it is possible to vary the position of the code holes with respect to the feed holes in the tape.

operating shaft 34, as described in the first mentioned copending application, supports a selector cam drum (not shown) which is released for rotation in response to the reception of a c'ode signal combination and a second cam drum I06} Fig. 4, that is released for rotation with each operation of the selector cam drum. Cam drum I06 is driven through a grab clutch comprising driving member 101 and driven member I08which 'has a clutch throwout cam I I I formed on its periphery to control the engagement of the clutch. A pivotally supported clutch throwout lever I09 is spring urged about its pivot into engagement with cam I I I to hold the clutch elements normally disengaged. When, however, the selector cam drum rotates, a cam therein actuates clutch throwout lever I09 and pivots it away from cam- I II- permitting spring H2 to slide driven element I08- into engagement with driving element I0'I to drive cam drum I06 through one cycle. At the completion of that cycle, lever I09 again cooperates with cam I I I to slide driven member I08 from driving mem ber IIl'I andarrest the rotation of the cam drum. When the selector receives a continuous succession of code signals, it will be effective to release cam drum I06 for a corresponding succession of cycles of operation.

A perforating cam H3 is included in the cam drum I06 and actuates a pivoted, punch operating lever II I through a cam following roller 6- rotatably supported upon a stud which extends transversely of a bifurcation provided inthe rightward extremity of lever H4; Lever H4 extends obliquely from main operation shaft 34 at the rear of apparatus casting 2| downwardly andforwardly and is pivotally articulated at its lower extremity to a horizontally disposed link II'I,

Fig. 2, located near the front of the casting. Lever I I4 has a vertical projection I I8 bored so as to be assembled in the perforator by means of a pivot shaft I I9 secured in bearing blocks I2I and I22 formed integrally with an upstanding supporting structure I23 to be described more fully hereinafter.

At its leftward extremity, Fig. 2, link 11'? is provided with an aperture I24 which receives a projection I26 adjustably carried by cradle 62. Cradle 62, which serves as the code punch hammer, is urgedby means of a spring I28 secured thereto and to a spring post depending from base casting 2| into abutting relation with the leftward extremity of link II1, adjustable stop I21 secured to depending portion I29 of cradle 62 serving to limit thiscounterclockwise movement of the cradle. Cradle 62 is guided in its movement by the engagement of stud I26 with the guiding aperture I24 of link I I1.

Link H1 is slidably articulated through a slot I3| to pivoted three-arm lever I32 which carries an eccentric I34 on arm I33, and the eccentric provides an adjustable engagement between lever I32 and the bell crank 93 of the pre-punch. Feed pawl IIlI for the pre-p'unch is adjustably secured to arm I36 of the lever I32 by means of an eccentric so that the feed stroke may be adjusted. Through the engagement of abutment I29 with link H1 and the articulation of link II1 to lever I32, the code punches and the pre-punch are operated with each oscillation of lever I I4 under the control of cam I I3.

As has already been pointed out, the selector mechanism 28 which controls the code bars 21 conditions in this one operation both the printing mechanism through the alignment of the code notches in the code bars 21 and the code punches through the conditioning of punch interponents 58. Cam assembly I05, however, responds to the operation of selector mechanism 28 so that upon the receipt of a code signal combination by the selector mechanism, there is accomplished a printing operation which records on the tape a character corresponding to the received code signal combination, and, simultaneously, there is accomplished one perforating operation that tores the received code signal combination in the tape and another perforating-operation that prepares a feed hole in the tape.

A tape guide, Fig. 2, extends from the feed pins 98 at the pre-punch unit to the printing platen 22 to serve as a guide for the tape and prevent the tape from becoming engaged with the perforating unit mechanism. This guide for the sake ofa better understanding of the perforating mechanism has been disclosed only partially in Fig. 1. The tape guide consists of two sections, one section I31 extending leftwardly and downwardly from the feeding pins 98 of the pre-punch, and another section I38 extending rightwardly and downwardly from platen 22 and being overlapped by the leftward extremity of section I31. The guide sections are supported by the castings of the pro-punch unit and code punch unit, respectively. In order to guide the tape to the platen accurately, section I38 is provided with bent over flange portions I39 leading to platen 22. A similar guide I directs the tape from a supply into the pre-punch unit. By providing individual tape feeding mechanisms at both the pro-punch unit and the code punch unit, a tape loop may be maintained between the units and supported by the tape guide. This tape loop removes the drag of the tape supply reel from the feedingmecha- Although it is contemplated that the perforating unit operate as an incident to printing in response to received code signal combinations, it may sometimes be desirable to initiate the operation of the perforating mechanism independently of received code signal combinations; that is, independently of the selector receiving magnet which usually initiates the operation of the perforating mechanism. For this purpose, a manual release of the selector cam assembly has been provided enabling an operator to cause the perforating unit to operate a number of times so that through the resultant actuation of the feeding devices, any required length of tape may be fed through the printing reperforator.

As has been set forth above, the printing reperforator includes a selector mechanism which is the subject of U. S. Patent 1,745,633. This selector mechanism, however, has been modified by including therein an improved stop gate which is the subject of U. S. Patent 1,884,743, Figs. 5 and 9 of which illustrate the improved stop gate. The improved stop gate mechanism includes apivotally mounted bell crank I42, Fig. 1, corresponding to bell crank 2I9 of Patent 1,884,743, which when rotated in a counterclockwise direction releases the selector cam assembly for rotation.

In the idle condition of the printing reperforator, that is, when no code signal combinations are being received by the selector magnet, the stop gate controlling mechanism holds the selector cam assembly arrested. When the start impulse of a code signal combination is received, the armature (not shown) of the selector ma net is released and causes bell crank I42 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to release the stop gate and permit the selector cam assembly to rotate. The normal operation of the stop gate mechanism is fully described in U. S. Patent 1,884,743 and resort may be'had to that patent, which is incorporated herein'by reference, for the details of structure and operation not here disclosed.

Manual release of the stop gate may be effected by operating a release rod I41, Fig. l, which is slidably supported upon a bracket I48. Bracket I48 may be carried by any suitable portion of the printer frame structure, preferably finding its support at the support for ribbon reel 25. Release rod I41 extends from the front to the rear of the apparatus and its foremost extremity is bent upwardly forming a thumb piece I43 while its rearmost extremity carries a pin I50 which projects through a crank I5I pivoted to the supporting plate of the selector mechanism at I52. Arm I53 of crank I5I is disposed rightwardly of hell crank I42 of the stop gate release mechanism so that when release rod I41 is shifted toward the rear of the apparatus, rotating crank I5I in a counterclockwise direction, arm I53 releases the stop gate in a manner similar to the release of the selector magnet armature in response to the reception of a start impulse. Release rod I41 is biased forwardly and it is, therefore, necessary to hold the rod in its rear- Sensing unit Associated with the hereinbefore described printing reperforator, is a sensing unit I6 provided to sense the perforated tape as it leaves the printing reperforator to-control functions'to be hereinafter indicated and described. In order to take full advantage of line time, the sensing or transmitting unitemployed with the printing reperforator is of the pivoted or traveling type whichis adapted to sense every code perforation recorded in a tape by the printing reperforator, without the necessity of stepping the perforated tape a plurality of feeding distances from the perforating unit into the transmitting or sensing unit. This pivoted transmitter, is described in detail in copending application Serial No. 219,770 filed July 18, 1938 by Ross A. Lake and reference may be had to that copending application for the details both in structure and mode of operation of the pivoted transmitter. The transmitter comprises essentially a plurality of sensing elements to sense the perforations in a tape, a member for feeding, the tape through the transmitter having imparted to it rectilinear motion, and a cam drum for controlling the operation. of the sensing elements and the tape feeding member.

Unit I6 has a base casting IBI, Fig. 1, which is removably-mounted upon the base casting 2| of the apparatus. The casting IEI consists of a pair ofparallel vertical wall sections I 62' interconnected by a relatively fiat web portion I63, Fig. 2. The leftward'extremity of portion I63 is formed into a vertical portion I64 which is channeled to serve as a journal for a shaft I66 and slotted to provide a comb I61 which serves to guide the vertical oscillations of the members which support and operate the sensing elements. The rightward portion of wall sections I62, as viewedin Fig. 1, support pivot studs I68 upon which the movable or pivoted portion of the sensing unit issecured. .Specificially, the frame members I69 and I10 are secured to the pivots I68. A plate I1! is carried by the pivoted-frame members and carries a hinge post I12, Fig; 2, upon which is hingedly supported a tape gate I13 which in conjunction with the plate I1I defines the passage way for the perforated tape through the transmitter. A spring latch holds the tape gate in cooperating relation with the plate I1I.

This'struoture of the transmitter is substantially identical with that disclosed in the aboveidentified copending application, and reference may be had to that application and particu-. larly to Fig. 1 thereof, for a more detailed disclosureof themechanical details of the transmitter frame. Both plate HI and the tape gate I13 areprovided with a plurality of apertures which are in alignment when the tape gate is in cooperative relation with plate "I.

Apertures in plate I1I receive the reduced portions of sensing pins I15, Fig. 2. There is provided a sensing pin or finger for each of the possible perforations appearing in a transverse row of perforations in the tape, plus an additional pin to be employed as a tape-out indicator in a manner to be hereinafter described. In the particular apparatus under consideration there are provided six sensing fingers, inasmuch as it is contemplated to utilize a five-unit code. A slidably movable feed member I16, Fig. 3, which is formed with a cam groove I11 is provided to feed the tape through the transmitter in accordance with a rectilinear feeding movement precisely as has been described in great detail in the above-identified copending app-li cation Serial No. 219,770 and illustrated in Figs.

9rto 12 thereof. In view of the detailed description of this tape feeding mechanism, in the latter copending application, the apparatus description and the mode of operation will be set out herein only briefly, and reference shouldbe had to the aforementioned application for a more complete understanding of both the structural details and the precise mode of operation of this rectilinearly operable feed mechanism. Member I16 carries on its upper extremity pins I18 which enter and normally engage the feed perforations in a tape to advance the tape or advance the transmitter, depending on which of the two is held immovable and cooperatingwith cam'groove I11 in lever I16 is a pin I19 secured to the free end of a cam operated lever I8I.

As will be described hereinafter, members I16 and I 8| are operated in timed relation, and as lever I8I-is drawn downwardly in slot I11, the pin I19 due to the particular shape of cam groove I11 will oscillate member I16 ina counterclockwise direction to efiect relative movement between the pivoted frame of sensing unit I6 and thetape. Following this operation, lever I16 is moved downwardly -'to withdraw pins I18 from engagement with the feed perforations inthe tape after which arm I8I is moved upwardly and under the influence of the cam groove, member I 16 is moved in'a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, and the member I 16 is thereafter elevated to cause the pins. I18 to enga e other feed p forations in thetape to achieve. on a subsequent cycle, a relativemovernent between the sensing unit I6 and the perforated tape.

On the shaft I66 which is supported by the channelIM, Fig. 2, formed in the base casting of the sensing unit are pivotally supported aplurality of Y-levers I82 as Well as other levers inuding those required to-control the operation of themembers I16 and I8I of the tape feeding mechanism. The-Y-levers are individual to the sensing'fingers I15 and those fingers are pivotally secured to one arm of the Y'-levers on a centerline' substantially coincident with the pivots I68. The leftward portions of the Y-levers are supported in a member I83 secured by screws I84, Fig. 1, to the vertical wall sections of the base casting of the sensing unit, and member I83 is suitably slotted to provide a comb guide structure to guide the vertical oscillation of the Y- levers-about the shaft I66. Depending from-the rightward extremities of the Y-levers, as viewed in Fig. 2; are guide fingers I85 which when the Y-levers are rotated in a clockwise direction about Shaft I66 are received in horizontal'slots I86 of the casting of the sensing unit, which in this manner guide the oscillating movements of the Y levers. Each Y-lever is provided leftwardly of the shaft I66 as viewed in Fig. 2; with an- It is preferred that the sensing fingers I be secured to the Y-levers in the same manner in which the sensing elements I of the aboveidentified copending application Serial No.

219,770 are secured to their operating bell cranks I46I52; that is, each sensing finger is provided near its lower extremity with an aperture arranged to be engaged by a pin secured near the end of the horizontally extending arm of the Y- levers. arm of the Y-lever serves to retain the lower end of the sensing finger and prevents accidental displacements. This described preferred association of the sensing fingers and Y-levers is not illustrated in the drawings but is adequately illustrated in Fig. 2 of the latter copending application.

Also pivotally supported by shaft I66 is a lever I9I, Fig. 1, which is cam controlled to efl'ect the vertical reciprocation of feed member I16, a lever I92 which controls the operation of lever I8I, and the resulting oscillation of member I16 about its pivot, a lever I93 which operates a pair of contacts 25I, see Fig. 5, and a lever I94 which operates an associated pair of contacts 252 for purposes to be hereinafter described.

A cam drum I96, Figs. 2 and 4, carries a plurality ofcams which operate, as followers, the several levers pivotally supported by shaft I66, and located on this cam drum, are a plurality of cams I91, six in number to control the operation of the Y-levers, and the operation of the sixth sensing pin which may be carried by a Y-lever or a bell crank lever, a cam I98 to control the operation of contacts 25I, a transfer cam I99 for a purpose to be hereinafter described, a cam 200 for controlling the operation of feed lever I16 through lever I9I, cam 20I for controlling the operation of feed lever I8I through lever I92,

and cam 202 to control the operation of contacts 252. In Fig. 4, the cam drum has been illustrated and the elements of the structure which would obscure the View of the cam drum have been omitted for the purpose of giving a clear showin of the drum.

The power for driving cam drum I96 is derived from motor 29 through continuously rotating shaft 34. Main shaft 34, Fig. 4, is rotatably supported by the vertical supporting structure I23 which also provides the support for punch operator II4. Formed integrally with structure I23 are horizontally extending members 202 and 203 in which are securely fixed the bearings 204, preferably ball bearings, for shaft 34. An extension 206 is secured to main shaft 34 through a suitable coupling 201 and carries a gear 208 in mesh with a gear 209, Fig. 2, afllxed to a power transmission shaft 2 extending across the rear of the printing reperforator. Shaft 2II is rotatably supported by bearings 2 I 2 and 2 I3 depending from the principal apparatus casting 2I and carries a second power transmitting gear 2 I 4. Gear 2 I4, Fig. 2, which is continuously rotated by shaft 2 meshes with a gear 2H3 secured to shaft 2I1 which is journaled in suitable bearings preferably ball bearings 2I8 and 2I9 depending from the horizontal portion of base casting 2I. Grab clutch driving element 22I is driven continuously from shaft 2l1. The driven element 222 of the clutch is loosely supported on shaft 2 I1, and normally held out of engagement with driving element 22I, by means of a clutch throwout lever 223 which normally is spring urged into engagement with a clutch throwout cam 224 formed on the periphery of driven element 222. A com- A reed spring riveted to the horizontal press'ion spring 226 normally urges the clutch elements into engagement with one another and by means of a splined connection driven element 222 of the clutch imparts rotation to the cam drum I96 when the clutch elements have been engaged. An electromagnet 221, when energized, retracts the clutch throwout lever 223 from engagement with thethrowout cam on the driven element of the clutch and permits engagement of the driving and driven elements, to rotate the cam drum I96. So long as electromagnet 221 remains energized the cam drum will rotate continuously and upon de-energization of the electromagnet the clutch is disengaged after cam drum I96 completes its instant cycle of revolution.

The energization of electromagnet 221. is under the joint control of a manually operated switch 228, Fig. 8, and a transmitter operated switch 229 so that the operation of the transmitter may be initiated when desired and terminated automatically upon the operation of the transmitter as the transmitter senses the last code signal combination perforated in the tape by the printing reperforator. The manually operated switch 228 may be'located within the apparatus or may be external to the apparatus as may be best suited for the installation, but the transmitter controlled switch 229 is located within and is part of the apparatus. Frame member I19 of the transmitter structure carries a rightwardly extending projection 23I, Figs. 1 and 2, and when the transmitter in pivoting about pivots I69 has reached its limiting clockwise position, projection 23I will have been brought down into engagement with a plunger 232 which is reciprocally mounted within an aperture in the base casting 2I and normally rests upon a contact of switch 229 so that as the projection 23I bears against and depresses plunger 232, the plunger in turn depresses and operates the switch 229 to break the circuit to the electromagnet 221, and shut down the operation of cam sleeve I96.

Cams I91 are arranged on cam drum I96 with r their respective cam recesses in axial alignment so that a cam recess is presented to each of the .Y-levers I82 and to the operator of the sixth sensing finger simultaneously whereby the six sensing fingers are elevated to their probing positions simultaneously and, depending upon the tially of the ,cam sleeve I96 to retain the fingers I15 in tape probing position until the operation of a'transfer mechanism, to be hereinafter described, has beencompleted and thereafter the cams rotate the fingers simultaneously in a clock- .wise direction, retracting them from probing re lation with the tape preparatory to advancing the tape through the transmitter. Cams 200 and 20I are orientated to operate, respectively, followers I9I and I92 in precisely the same manner in which cams 201 and 205 in the above-identified .copending application Serial No. 219,770 cooperate, respectively, with their followers I61 and I10, to impart a rectilinear feeding movement to members I16 and I8I of the transmitting device. Furthermore, cams 200 and MI are orientated on cam drum I96 with respect to the cams I91, which operate the sensing-fingers, in the same relation as the feed cams are orientated on the cam drum of the latter above-identified copending application with respect to the cam therein s same which operates theqtape sensing fingers; This orientation, or a similar one;--i's important. and necessary to assure the: proper operation of the feeding mechanism for if the feeding mechanism were permitted to operate in other than the timed relation set forth inthe above-mentioned-copending. application with respect to the operation of the sensing pins, there would-:result a tearing of the tape and. incomplete transmission.

As has already been mentioned, the motion imparted: to the transmitter, through: the operation of the pinl'l9 carried-on lever. i8 1 which is. in engagement with .cam groovelll, imparts a feeding stroke to: the tape to'feed the tape through the transmitter, and so long as there is a tape loop ora tapesurplus between thesprint ing reperforator and the tape .transmitter, the tape willbe advanced in this mannen'butwhen the. tape is taut between the reperforatorand the transmitter, the operating movementof. the transmitter will be restrained in a counterclockwise direction because of'thez engagement of the pins H8 in the taut tape and will result. in-the clockwise movement ofthetransmitter: frame about its pivots I68. This movement of -the transmitter will continueso long as the tape'remains taut between-the transmitter and the reperforator, providing that notv stop abutment has been reached and that sleeve 1.96 is maintained in operatiom As may be clearly seenin Fig. 2, the sensing unit i6 is pivoted to oscillate. about: a vertical center; that is,'to either side of. a vertical center. This over-central travel of the transmitter requires the inclined, feed of the tape through the perforating punch .block, which has been definedlabove, in order .thatthere maybe a substantially straight line: feed .of. the tape from the reperforator-into the transmitter when the transmitter has assumed its most clockwise'posi tion; that is, in abutment with the punch block. The forward or. leading-surface of the punch block-Fig. 2, is cut back at-an inclinedangle,

inclined to the vertical, to present a plane which issubstantially parallel touthe position of the transmitter frame when ithas-engaged the punch block so that. there is in effect a plane of contact between the two units. With the transmitter in this extreme clockwise position, the tape guideway defined by plate I'll and the tape gate I13 above mentioned, will be in a planeinclined to the vertical necessitating. the feed of the tape from the reperforator. at a similar angle-so that the tape may feed inuone continuous line from the reperforator into the transmitter in v this extreme position. I

It isclear from the detailed description of the rectilinear movement of. the feeding-mechanism of the sensing unit, which has beenpointed out above and. which is defined in greater detail-in the above-identified copending application. Serial No. 219,770 that the pins i'l8are. normally inengagement with the tape, and it follows that if the printing ,reperforator operates at a greater rate than the operationofthe sensing. unit=thereby accumulating tape therebetween, the tape :will advance the transmitter. in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot I68 until finally the transmitter has reached its extreme counterclockwise position; that is, in abutment with an adjustable limit stop 238;"Fig. 2. This adjustable stopis suitably secured to a substantially U-shaped frame member 231' which spans the sensing unit and is secured thereto by means of screws engaging the vertical Wall sections Hi2 thereof, Fig. 1.

. member- 239 has a depending portion centrailyl ,thereof, which secures or supports the stop. abutmentlifi', Fig. 2 A pair of tape supportingfingers 238,1 'igs. 1 and'2, are carried by the. web portion of-the frame 231 andextend forwardly of. the transmitter toward the perforator unit,- extending, 'whenthe' transmitter is in its extreme counterclockwisepositionagainst the ,stop 2 36, between the spaces which intervene the first and. second, and fifth andsixth tape sens.- ing fingers. Fingers 238 may project between any ,desiredsensing. elements of unit IS. The tape supporting fingers by projecting through the tape sensing unit serve to support the tape and sustain the weight of the tape, loop between the tape sensing v unit and the tape reperforator preventingbending ofthetape-over plate H I of;the transmitter. Should the tape. besupportedby the sensing fingers and theedge of plate 111- and there be-asubstantial-ly large tape loop inter.- mediate the-tape sensing unit and reperforator, itisepossible forthe weight-ofthe tape-to bend or substantially break the tape over the plate, l1! andprevent the feedof the tape through the transmitter.. The. tape supporting fingers. which are provided obviate this danger. f

Itis to-be understood that thetapefingers which are shown in Fig-.2 as being mounted. upon the frame 231- may, if desired, be supported by the frame members of. thetransmitter itself, so that the fingers would travel-withthe transmitter and support the tape in all positions. of the transmitter, However, with such -a construction .it wouldbe necessary tomount-the fingers movably on the frame so that-upon the frames approach.- ing the perforatingpunch block. these fingers could be-defiected downwardly or otherwise so. as

notto impede. the movement of the transmitter to itsextre'me clockwise positionagainst the code punch block. which is necessary for the unit to sense .the last code combination'perforated in the tape.

The tape as it leaves the. sensing unit, I6 is supported upon a tapeguide 239, Fig} 2, and directedthereover out ofthe apparatus-l Theguide 23!! supported by base casting 2|, extends across the transfer mechanism and switching mecha,-

to be described hereinafter, andhas been omitted from the remaining figures of the drawings, for the sake .of disclosing elements of the apparatus which would be obscured by the guide. There has been provided an adjustment inthe transmitter whereby the tape sensing elements I 15 may beadjusted'vertically with respectto thetrans'mitter plate I'll and tapegate H3. The adjustment comprises aplate MLFig. 5, rotatably. secured to eachextremity of shaft [66; plate has an arcuateslot 242 through which projects ast'ud 2J3 which threads into the vertical wall section I62. of the transmitter casting. By adjusting plates 2M the position of shaft I66 within. channel 1'64 may be varied, 'resultingin an adjustment of fingers I15 with respect to the transmitter tap ate.

A. tape deflector 246. of substantially Usshape, Figs. "1 and 2, is provided intermediate the sensing unit and reperforator and is pivotally secured to the punch block of the periorator,;Fig'. 1, with the rightwardly extending arms of the deflector 246 pivotally supported upon shaft 16 of thereperforator which also supports the stripper element IT; A downwardly directed projection 24! depends from the web section of the deflector-into the path; of the tape as it emerges from the code plinth, block. The deflector lnormally tends to The.

rotate in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of gravity and, ,if' desired, a biasing spring. Due to the contour of the deflector, tape as it emerges from the reperforating punch block and abuts against the deflector is directed downwardly into a depending loop between the reperforator punch block and the sensing unit. A storage container may receive the tape as it accumulates between the units. The tape deflector is relatively narrow, Fig. 1, and exposes that portion of the tape on which is printed the code characters and, accordingly, the message printed on the tape intermediate the transmitter and reperforator may nevertheless be read even though the tape deflector is in its operative tape loop forming position. The deflector 246 may, if desired, be rotated over center in a clockwise direction to an inoperative position; that is, out of the path of the tape as it emerges from the per forating code punch block. The deflector may be rendered inoperative in this manner when it is necessary to thread the tape, initially through the transmitter.

Extending forwardly of the deflector is a latching finger 249 which serves to engage the plate I1I of the transmitter when the transmitter is in its extreme counterclockwise position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and renders the transmitter immovable with respect to the perforating punch block, so long as there is a sufficiently large tape loop intermediate the transmitter and reperforator. If, because the reperforator unit operated at a greater speed than the transmitter, there is a sufliciently large tape loop formed between the two units, the deflector 246 will pivot about its shaft 16 and come into locking engagement with the transmitter I6 which would have been advanced to its extreme counterclockwise position by reason of the movement of the tape with respect to the transmitter caused by the operation of the reperforator at a greater rate than the operation of the transmitter. Sensing will then be carried out with the sensing unit held by the latching finger 248, so long as there remains a sufliciently large tape loop intermediate the two units. However, assuming. that the sensing unit should operate at a rate greater than the rate of operation of the reperforator, the tape loop will be shortened as it is fed through'the transmitter at a greater rate than incoming tape is fed from the reperforator. If the transmitter continues to operate at the greater rate, the tape loop will become entirely taken up, and in so doing, the tape will engage a pin 249 extending horizontally from flnger 246, and as the tape becomes taut finger 246 will be lifted out of the path of the transmitter so that under the subsequent operations of the rectilinear feed mechanism of the transmitter, the pivoted transmitter will be permitted to advance toward the reperforating unit without having its movement in this direction impeded in any way by the latching projection 249 of the tape deflector. In Fig. 2 there is indicated in dotted construction, the position of the tape deflector when it has been cammed by the tape in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 16 due to a shortening of the tape loop,

Briefly the operation of the transmitting or sensing unit is as follows:

Assume switch 226 to be manually closed and that the transmitter I6 is in its extreme clockwise position against the perforator code punch block. In this condition projection 23I secured to frame member I10 of the transmitter, will have depressed plunger 232 and opened switch 229, deenergizing the electromagnet 221 and disabling the power drive to' the cam drum I96 by reason of the engagement of clutch throwout lever 229 and the throwout cam 224 on the periphery of the clutch driven element 222. Toward the completion of a cycle of operation of the printing reperforator in response to a received code signal, a perforated code combination will be stored in the tape and advanced from the reperforator to the transmitter, and this advancing movement of the tape, because of the fact that the pins I19 of feed member I16 are in engagement with feed perforations in the tape, will rock the pivoted transmitter in a counterclockwise direction for a distance corresponding to the tape feed, and this movement is sufllcient to withdraw projection 23I from engagement with plunger 232 and permit the spring element of the switch 229 to elevate the plunger and close the switch 229 completing the circuit to electro-magnet 221 which attracts its armature resulting in the removal of clutch throwout lever 223 from the path of the throwout cam on the clutch driven element 222, permitting the engagement under the influence of spring 226 of the elements HI and 222 of the clutch and connecting the power drive from motor 29 through to the cam drum I96. As cam drum I96 rotates, cams I91 simultaneously present cam depressions to the plurality of Y-levers I82 to elevate the sensing fingers I16 into tape probing position under the influence of biasing springs I69 individual to each Y-lever. If a given Y-lever finds a perforation in the tape, its associated spring I69 will be permitted to rotate the Y-lever to its extreme counterclockwise position about shaft I66, positioning the leftward extremity of the Y-lever in the lowermost position in its guide comb I63 but if a sensing flnger I15 does not flnd a code perforation in the tape, the counterclockwise rotation of its associated Y-lever is restrained so that its spring I99 can rotate the Y-lever I92 to a very limited extent about shaft I66 resulting in a positionment of the Y-lever in an upper position in the guide comb I83. The relative position of the Y-levers, that is,'whether the Y-levers remain in a relatively high portion of the guide comb I99, or are positioned in the lower portion of the guide comb, controlled in accordance with the code perforated in the tape, is utilized in a manner to be hereinafter described, to control transmitting redistributors to repeat the signals and function levers to perform switching operations in accordance with the permutable setting of the Y-levers. As cam drum I98 continues its cycle of rotation, cams I91 retract fingers I15 from probing engagement with the tape, cams 290 and 20I, controlling the operation of levers I16 and Ill in a manner above described, effect a rectilinear feed of member I16 and advance the transmitter again to its extreme clockwise position to cause projection 23I to open switch 229 and interrupt the operation of the transmitting cam shaft at the completion of the .cycie of operation of the sensing unit.

If during the operation of the sensing unit, a second advancement is given to the tape and consequently to the sensing unit by the operation of feed wheel 8| in the printing reperforator, the movement of the transmitter frame at the completion of the instant cycle of operation of cam drum I96 will not cause the switch 229 to open and the sensing unit will continue to operate. If the printing reperforator continues to operate at a greater rate than the sensing unit, a tape loop will form intermediate the units an'd the tape deflector 246 will be effective to'latch thesensing unit against its counterclockwise stop 236 until the deflector is cammed out of engagement with "the sensing unit by the tape resulting from a subsequent operation'of the-transmitter at a greater rate than that of the printing repel forator. With the deflector 246 cammed-out of the path of the transmitter, the continued opera t'ion ofath'e transmitter and its rectilinearly oper ated feed member I76 will advance the transmitter toward the printingreperforator andultimately interrupt the operation of the transmitter by opening switch 229 as the transmitter is moved into a position to sense the last code perforation in the tape.

Tape-out indicator In Fig. 1, it may be clearly seen that there are provided six sensing fingers I only five of which are employed to probe the code perforations in the tape as indicated above, the sixth finger being employed as a tape-out indicator to interrupt the operation of cam drum I96 when the tape in the transmitter has become exhausted or broken or in response to the probing of a special perforation in the tape. The sixth sensing finger may be carried by a Y-lever similar to the Y-levers which carry the code sensing fingers but provided with a depending projection 256, Fig. 3, which is effective to operate'contacts 251 when the sixth sensing pin, is permitted to rotatethat lever in its extreme counterclockwise position about shaft I66, moving projection 256' into engagement with the contact 251. In View of the fact that contact 251 is closed cyclically upon each rotation of cam drum I96 and is immediately reopened, and since the electromagnet 2211 should remain de-energized during the depletion of tape supply,.the contacts 251 are connected to a control circuit shownin Fig. 8. This control circuit forms. no part of the present inventhe spring I89 associated with the lever carrying 'tion but is illustrated only for the purpose of" showing the relation between contacts 251 and clutch magnet 221. Briefly, however, the momentary closing of contact 251 efiects the energization of magnet 250 over an obvious circuit, which is locked up over an obvious locking circuit. The circuit for a warning lamp is closed, and the circuit of the clutch magnet 22''! is opened due to the operation of armatures of magnet 250. By the closing of manually operated con-- tacts 228 the locking circuit of magnet 25Il'is broken and the reenergization of clutch magnet 221 is. effected.

The sixth sensing pin or tape-out pin will be permitted to be rocked into its extreme counterclockwise position to operate contacts 25'! when the tape is exhausted or broken. If it is desirable to arrest the operation of transmitter I6 at a predetermined point, a special perforation may be made in the tape in alignment with the sixth sensing pin so that asthis special perforation is presented .in the transmitter over the sixth pin, that pin in moving to tape probing position will sense the special perforation. and interrupt the operation of the transmitter at this predetermined point,

Tape feed suppression foratedcode combination a: plurality of: times and format purpos ialtape feed suppression means is'provided which; when operated; disables the operationiof the tapeffeeding mechanism in the transmitter-so that as the cam drum' I 95 efiects a plurality of operations ofxthe sensing unit, the unit will. sense one code combination in the tape a-rplurality of times. I InFig. 3,the details of the tape suppression device are illustrated. I The device comprises. a tape suppression magnet 258 which maybe energized by any local,- manually'closed circuit. or relay operated circuit, not shown; a pivoted armature 261 provided with a laterally extending blocking proje'ction'262 and projections 2G3 :and 264 provided on follower levers IHI andlfilrespeotively, of the tape feeding mechanism; A spring266 extending between the base casting 2| of the apparatus and arma-; ture 26f normally holds the armature in its counterclockwise position about its pivot 224 out of engagement projections 263 and 264.

When it is desired to'operate the. tape s'up+ pression device, any suitable-energizing circuit to magnet259 is. manually conditioned, energiz= ing the magnet which attracts its armature, rocking the-armature in a clockwise direction about pivot 261introducingtheblocking pro-' jeotion- 262 of armature 26I intoblookin'g relation with respeotto projections 263 and 264 on feed levers I91 and I92, respectively, holding the members ISI and I92 of the feed mechanism from responding to the influence of their respective biasing springs when a depression in t'heir cam-s ZOO-and 20!, respectively, ispresented to the cam followers secured-to levers I9'I andrl92. Accordingly, as cam drum I96 continues this cycle of revolution, the cams EM-and 201' are ineffective upon the feed leversllfi and' f 8 I since their operating levers 19i" and I'QZ, respectively, are heldnonresponsive to thecontrolof said cams. Therefore, as camdrum I96 is'rotat'ed through a plurality of revolutions'it' causes the sensing elements I15 under the-control of cams I9T'to sense the same code combination-of the-tape a plurality of times. a

Retransmztting distributors, and transfer mechanism The sensing unit, in the manner described above sensesthe successive code'perforations in the tape as the' tape passes-from the printing reperforator'to the sensing unityand in each sensing operatio'n'position's the Y-le'vers I82 in guide comb I83- in accordance with thecode combination sensed; that is, th -=Y leversare permutably positioned in the upper or lower portions of the guide the operationof cam typeretransmittin istributors IT and I8, Figs. landsl-whichredistribute or retransmit the" received-and recorded code signal combinations. A plurality of distributing devices, have been provided to aiiord a flexible retransmitting or redistributing systermas will hereinafter appear. I

Each of thecamtype retransmitting distributors is substantially the same as the distributor which is the subject of Patent No: 1,595,472 to Krum: and includes a'cam drum upon'which-iare mounted the five codedmpulse controllingv cams and a startstop controlling cam described Withpart-ioularity in the Krum patent. Distributor ill has a cam assembly 2' of this typerotatably supported upon a continuously rotating shaft 212 which is supported in suitable bearings preferably ball bearings, one of which, 213, is illustrated in Fig. 4. Shaft 212 carries at its rearward extremity or rightward extremity as viewed in Fig. 4, a gear 214 in mesh with power transmitting gear 2 I4 secured to continuously rotating shaft 2| I. A clutch, including a driving portion 218 secured to shaft 212 and driven member 211 rotatably supported upon shaft 212, is provided to impart driving force to the cam assembly. A spring 218 is effective when a distributor release magnet 219. Fig. 5, is energized retracting a clutch throwout lever 28I from engagement with the clutch throwout cam 282 formed on the periphery of driven member 211 to engage the clutch elements an rotate the cam assembly.

A plurality of pivotally supported contact operating bell crank levers 283, Fig. 2, having cam following projections 284 is supported upon a pivot shaft 288 suitably secured to the apparatus frame structure and biasing springs (not shown) serve to urge the bell cranks in a clockwise direction to maintain the cam followers in engagement with their associated cams in cam assembly 2II. A pair of transmitting contacts 281 is associated with each contact operating lever to be operated thereby. The individual cams comprising the assembly 2II are arranged in helical arrangement and present cam recesses to the contact operating levers successively so that the contact operating levers are invariably operated in succession with each rotation of the cam sleeve whereby a signal including start-stop phasing impulses may be transmitted.

The particular signal transmitted is determined by a series of contacts, in this case five in number, one of which is serially connected with the code impulse contacts of the distributor II. These character determining contacts 288 are supported in the apparatus assembly in operative relation with respect to adepending projection 289 depending from each of the Y-levers corresponding to the code probing sensing elements to be conditioned thereby in accordance with a code combination sensed by sensing mechanism I8. Five code controlling contacts 288 have been provided because it is contemplated that the apparatus will be operated by a five unit code. It is to be understood that the number of such contacts employed will be determined by the particular code utilized.

As indicated above, the contact operating lever I94, Fig. 5, is pivotally supported on shaft I88 to operate under the control of a earn 202 a pair of contacts 252 which contacts, when operated, complete the energizing circuit (not shown) for the distributor release magnet 219 to initiate a cycle of operation of retransmitting distributor II. Cam 202 is oriented within the cam drum I98 to operate lever I94 in proper timed relation to the operation of the sensing mechanism I8 under the operation of the plurality of cams I81 so that distributor I1 will be operated to repeat a signal combination that has been sensed.

The distributor release magnet 219 as well as the transmitter release magnet 221 is supported by a bracket that depends from the main casting, the magnets being secured thereto in superposed relation, Fig. 5. A pair of horizontally extending arms, 29I and 292, project from the bracket, Fig. 1, and a pivot shaft 293 upon which is mounted clutch throwout levers 223 and 28I is supported by the rightward extremities of the arms.

In the operation of the 'retransmitting apparatus thus far described; the transmitting distributor II repeats into the channel with which the distributor is electrically associated the signal combinations stored in the tape and sensed by the sensing device. The Y-levers I82 are permutably conditioned under the operation of the sensing fingers I15 about the shaft I88 and thereby operate the series of contacts 288 in a corresponding permutation. This permutation is determined as fol- 10 lows: When aY-lever has assumed its extreme counterclockwise position as when its associated sensing finger has found a perforation in the tape,

its projection 289 causes its associated contact pair 288 to be closed, and when the counterclockwise. rotation of a Y-lever is impeded due to a spacing condition represented by the absence of a perforation in the tape over the particular sensing finger, its projection 289 retains contacts 288 open so that with each operation of the sensing 2U device contacts 288 are opened and closed to determine a, code signal permutation. In timed relation to the operation of the sensing device, cam 202 operates lever I94 to energize the distributor release magnet 219 which transmits a start impulse following which, through the invariable operation of its cam operating levers, it transmits the marking and spacing impulses comprising the particular code signal combination under the control of contacts 288 and finally it transmits a stop impulse whereupon the clutch throwout lever 282 arrests the cam sleeve pending another upon contacts 288. At substantially the same time,

distributor I! is released and during the remaining portion of the sensing time, transmits over its associated line the signal combination established on contacts 288.

Y-levers I82 control the signals generated by a second retransmitting distributor I8 through a transfer mechanism that reads the setting of the Y-levers, determined by a sensing operation, and establishes that setting on the contact operating levers of the distributor. The particular association of the distributor with the sensing mechanism, being through the agency of a transfer mechanism, affords complete signal overlap in this portion of the apparatus which is similar to a tape transmitter.

The transfer mechanism is supported by a pair of depending structural brackets, depending from base casting 2I. These elements 30I and 302, Fig. l, are provided with horizontally extending flanges through which the brackets are bolted to base casting 2I. Pivot studs 303 and 304, Fig. 4, are carried at the lower extremity of brackets 30I and 302, respectively, and support the frame of the transfer mechanism in a pivotal manner. The frame comprises a pair of vertical arms 308 and 301 intercomiected by a horizontally disposed member 308, Fig. l. A horizontally disposed pivot shaft 309, Fig. 2, extends between the upper portions of vertical frame members 306 and 301 of the transfer frame and there is mounted on the shaft a plurality of transfer levers 3| I which are 78 substantially T shaped and suitably spaced horizontally along shaft 309by means ofspacing discs 3 I 2. The upper and lower extremities of the vertical sections of T-levers3II face the fork elements of the Y-levers I82, Fig. 2,-and when the Y-levers are positioned in the upper portion of the slide groove of comb. I83, the-upper tines of the Y-levers are in substantial alignment with the upper extremities of the T-levers and, conversely, when the Y-levers are positioned in the:loWer-por-. tion of the comb, as illustrated in'Figt 2 theslower tines are in substantial alignment with the lower extremities of the T-levers. "Shaft 309 is preferably eccentric in cross sectionso that b-yflrotating the shaft an accurate aligmnentcf the T-levers and Y-levers may be obtained. 1

In order to transfer thepermutable setting-f the Y-levers to the transfer-levers, the irame'of the transfer mechanism is pivotallysupported as described above, and cam 199, Fig. 4,which .is included in cam drum I96, operates upon a cam follower 313-, Figs. 2 and 4:,formed as a projection on the member 301 of the frame of the transfer mechanism. A biasing spring (not shown) operates normally tohold. the transfer frame inits counterclockwise position, but the operation of cam I 99 on cam follower 3I3 is suffici'ent to'overcome this spring-bias and rotate the transfer frame and the T-levers 3H into-a clockwise posi' tion in which the terminals of the T-levers come into abutting relation with the tines of the'Y- levers in accordance with the permutable setting of the Y-levers, and this engagement of the T'- levers with the Y-levers rocks the T-levers in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about shaft 309 and transfers the setting of'the Y-levers to the T-levers.

More particularly, if a "Y-lev'er is assumed to be in its lower position in comb 183; in response to the projection of its associated sensing. finger I 15' through a code perforationin the tape. under the influence'of'its' biasing spring'IBS; when the cam I 99-operates thetransfer'mechanism inv timed relation to the-probing of the tape'nnderthe control of cams I91, that is, after the tape hasz-been sensed and the Y-leverspermut'ably conditioned,

it will bring the" T-lever associated with the'particular Y-lever toward the Y-l'ever', the lower tine ofwhi'ch-will' engage the lower extremity ofithe vertical section of the T-lever 3'1], and. through this engagement "will rock the 'T-leverl 3H. i'n-.a clockwise direction about shaft, 309.. Conversely,

when the Y-lever is in its upper position in the comb I83 due .to the failure of its finger I15 to enter. a perforation in the tape, whentheassochated" T-lever is brought into engagementwiththe Y-lever, the upper tine of the Y-lever' will engage theupper extremity of. the vertical section of the T-lever and inthis engagement rock. the IT-lever in a counterclockwise direction. about shaft 309'. The transferof the setting of the: individua1--Y- levers to. thelassociated individual T-leverstakes place simultaneously and. after it has taken-place, the return spring on 1 .the. transfer mechanism 1 is efiective under the control of: cam: |99r=t09t0t8$6 the transfer mechanism, and the'T-leverssinitheir permutable relation with respect to tone another, to their normal or counterclockwise. positionzand;

' in this manner; free. the plurality of Y:-1evers which-maythen-bereturned to theinnormal'position by cams I91 retracting the fingers I215 from engagement with the perforatedztape,:preparatory to the sensingcfa subsequent: codecombinatiom When: the transfer mechanism. is returned-to normal; it. maintains control over a ret'ransmitting distributor ;.totransmit the signalcombination transmission, cam drum I96 initiates another cycleof: the sensing unit, setting the: Y-levers-in accordance-with the following code signal combinationrecorded. in. the tape, thereby providing complete signal overlapbetween the sensin unit and transfer. mechanism.

There is. associated-with each-,T-lever a code bar 3=I6-,. Figs, 1 and-Q2,- -,and thisassociation is through: the. shank; portion 3I1of'T- lever 3 which is received in :a recess 3I8 provided in the upper surface of the code bar. Each code ban 31-6 is slidably supported. at each of its-ex:- tremities within-v guide combs 3I9-and 32 I, Fig.: 2, carried in depending fashion from the base casting-21' of theapparatus. :There' are as many code bars. provided :as' there are T-levers, :one bar being. associated" with one T-lever in the above-described manner; -In this particular embodiment of the invention; wherein it is contemplated to' employ. a;five-unit code, there areprovidedi five Y-levers, five. T-levers and five. code bars mutually associated with one. another. The code bars 3I:Ii extendleftwardly from: the transfer T-levers andatFits leftward extremity, Fig. 2, eachcode barzreceives a latching lever 322 to control the transmitting contacts of c'amwtype distributor I8.

, hatching levers 322' are pivotally' supported upon a'pivot shaft: 32:3,u-Fig. 6, secured to main casting 2I-and. properly positioned axially along the shaftby spacing disc's 324. At its lowest extremity each. latching-lever enters a recess 325 providedin the upper surface of its associated code bar'to provide a suitable, articulation therebetween so that the permutable setting -of'-' the code bars will": be automatic'ally established on .thelatching levers The latching levers determine the signal transmitted by cam type distributor I8.

Cam type distributor I8', Figs. 1 and'2', comprises a cam drum 326 upon which are mounted the five: code impulse controlling cams and the start-stop controlling cam, as is well known in the art, and described with particularity in Patent No; 1 ,595,472 to 'Krum. Cam drum 326 is loosely mounted on shaft 321*which receives its driving'powen from shaftZII; Figs. 1 and 2, which carries gear 328'meshingwith'a gear 329 secured to shaft32'1. A grab or positive clutch comprising a driving element 33I, Fig. 1, secured'to shaft 3-21 and a driven portion 332 rotatably mounted upon shaft 321 and controlled by cl'utch throwoutlever- 333 is provided. to connect the power from shaft 321, through the grab clutch, to cam -d'rum 32B when magnet 334' is energized, retracting the clutch throwout lever 333 from engagement witnthe cam on the peripheral portibnofc'lutch element 332 permitting-engagement of the elements of thegrab clutch in a manner referred to hereinbefore in connection with another similar grab clutch constructioni Shaftiifl is'suitably journaled on supports provided in the. base casting 21,. one of which is illustrated at 336'.

Associated withthe cam ralityof levers 331, and operated by'cams' on cam drum 326 when permitted to move by the latching levers f 322 to control the operation of transmitting contacts 339- associated with a telegraph line (not shown) "In Fig. 2"the levers 331'and cam drum 326 are illustrated, and from that View it maybe seen that -the horizontally extending portion of each drum 326 are a plu- Fig. 2, pivoted on a shaft 338 i lever 331 carries a camfollowing element- 351-; A -sprirignot shown) individual to each-lever 331 tends normally to rotate each lever in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 338. When cam drm 326 is permitted to rotate due to the energization of magnet 334 thecode impulse controlling cams, successively present cam depressions to the cam followers 341 and in response thereto, the biasing springs rotate the levers in a counterclockwise direction to close the associated contact 333 if the latching lever 322 associated with the particular lever 331 is in its clockwise position, as illustrated in Fig. '2, due to the leftward positionment of its respective code bar, under the control of the T-levers. If a code bar has been conditionedin its rightward position by its T-lever, the latching lever 322 operated by that code bar will be positioned in its counterclockwise position orinto locking-relation with thelever 331 associated therewith, and when the cam recess is presented to the cam follower 341 of that lever, the counterclockwise rotation of the lever is restrained through the engagement of the latching lever 322 with the lever 331, preventing the closure. of the cam operated contacts 339 associatedwith that particularlever.

The energization of electromagnet 334 is under the controlof cam .198 on cam sleeve 196 of the sensing unit which, through the orientation of cam 198 on the sleeve, releases the distributor shaft 321 to drive the cam sleev 326 in timed relation to the sensing and transfer of the code combinations in the tape. Cam 198 operate a bell crank 193, Fig. 1, pivoted on shaft 166 to close contacts 25 1, Fig. 5, which complete a simple energizing circuit (not shown) to the electromagnet 334 in each cycle of revolution of the sensing unit cam drum196 to cause the grab clutch 331-332 in the transmitting distributor unit to be engaged for a single cycle of revolution.

The operation of the transfer mechanism and the transmitting distributor briefly is as follows:

In timed relation to the setting of the Y-levers 182, cam 199 operates to move the transfer mechanism including the transfer T-levers 31 I to their clockwise position and permutably set the T- levers in their clockwise or counterclockwise position about shaft 309 in accordance with the engagement of the T- and Y-levers; that is, by

engagement with the lower extremities of the Y- sponse to the spacing impulse indicated in the tape. Through their association with the T-levers the code bars will be correspondingly conditioned in a permutable setting corresponding to that setting which has been transferred to the T- levers from the Y-levers and in this setting the T-levers which have been rotated in a clockwise direction, position their associated code b'ars leftwardly and, conversely, those T-levers which are positioned in a counterclockwise direction condition their code bars in a rightward position. Correspondingly, the latching levers 322 are moved respectively out of and into latching position with respect to the levers 331. Those code bars 316 which have been positioned in a leftward direction in response to a marking impulse rotate their latching levers out of engagement with their associated levers 331 permitting the contacts controlled by those levers to be closed under the conspring to trol of the cam drum 326, to initiate a marking have been moved in a rightward direction in response to spacing impulses, position the latching levers 322 into blocking relation with their levers 331, to prevent the closure of the contacts 339 associated with those levers and thus initiate a spacing impulse. In this manner, the code combination, sensed by the sensing unit and transferred to the code bars by the transfer mechanism, is set up in the retransmitting distributor and retransmitted.

Automatic switching mechanism In order to effect automatic switching or any of the variou functions which-it may be desired to control from theperforated tape, there is provided an automatic switching mechanism 19 including a plurality of function levers 351, Figs. 1, 2, and 6, ivotally supported upon a shaft 352 which is suitably carried by the base casting to .the rear of the apparatus. The function levers are bell cranks and are properly positioned along shaft 352 by means of spacers 353 interposed between successive bell cranks and to accommodate a large number of function levers, the levers are assembled on shaft 352. to define two rows, one on either side of code bars 316. For the purpose of effecting switching operations, contacts 354 associated with communication channels are suit ably supported in a position to be operated by the horizontal armsof bell cranks 351, Fig. 6. Each function bell crank 351 'is provided with a biasing spring 356 tending to rock the bell crank about its pivoted shaft 261 in a direction to operate the contact pair associated therewith.

Each code bar 316 is coded on both its upper and lower surfaces; that is, each bar carries a series of recesses or cutaway portions in its upper'an'd lower surfaces,,located in code manner so that for each permutational setting of the code bars there will be one, and only one, alignment of notches including a' no tch or recess located in'each code'bar. Function levers 351 are positioned transversely of the code bars to be selectively operated thereby. The positionment of the function levers with respect to the code notches is such that thereis a predetermined permutational setting of the code bar's for each function lever which will'pre'sent an alignment of code notches to that function lever, and that lever alone, permitting the lever to be positioned into the alignment of codenotches by its biasing 35 therebyactuate its associated contacts A selected function bell crank 351, selected in response to the setting of code bars 316, is restored to its unselected position against the tension of its biasing spring by a spreader cam at the completionof the instant cycle of operation which is arnple time to accomplish the selected switching operation. "For this purpose, cam 351, Fig. 1, is provided extending parallel to bars 316 and rotatably supported beneath the horizontal portion of main casting 21on a shaft 358. The cam is disposed transversely of and between function bell cranks 351. Shaft 358 carries a gear 359 which meshes with gear 361 secured to cam assembly 196 and preferably the gear ratio is 2:1 since-cam 351 includes a pair of cam surfaces to operate both rows of function levers 351. With' this arrangement, shaft 356 rotates coextensively with but at half the 'speed' of cam assembly 136 so that near thecompletion of each cycle of cam drm 196, cam351 moves all function levers 351 to an extreme position'out of engagement with code :bars 316, freeing the bars for the next permutational setting. In the following cycle of operation, after cam drum I96 has caused a .succeeding permutational setting to be transferred to code bars 3 l 6, cam 351 frees the function levers and permits the restoring, springs 356 to rock the function levers into probing relation with respect to the code bars resulting in a selected operation ofthe bell cranks and contacts354.

A cognizance device, Fig. 3, is provided to hold the function levers 35I normally nonresponsive to the permutable settings of code bars 3l6 and to render the function levers selectively responsive to the operation of the code bars following. a predetermined operation of the code bars which is effective to remove the cognizance device from disabling association with the function levers. The cognizance device comprises a selectively operable control bar which must be properly conditioned to render the function bell cranks 351 responsive to the permutable setting of the code bars 316. Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, the control bar 366 is supported by guide combs 319 and 32I and is spaced from but parallels code bars 3I6. The control bar 366 is also slidably supported upon pins 361 and 368 which are mounted in a frame member 311 and which project through slotted apertures 369in the control bar. Frame member 311 is supported by combs 319 and 321. Control bar 366 extends transversely of and beneath the function bell cranks, 35I and normally presents blocking projections 312 to each of the function bell cranks which prevent the rotation of the bell cranks under the control of their springs 356 in response to the permutable setting of the code bars 316. However, control bar 366 is provided with notches 313 which, when the control bar has been operated in a predetermined manner, will be positioned beneath the function bell cranks 351 rendering the bell cranks responsive to subsequent operations of the code bars 316.

Pivotally supported on pin 361 is a bell crank 316 one arm of which is directed downwardly into alignment with a forwardly extending, depending projection 311 secured to control bar 366. Similarly, a bell crank 318 is pivotally supported on pin 368 and one arm of the bell crank is in alignment with a second, forwardly extending projection 319 that depends from control bar 366. It may be observed that the bell cranks engage opposite sides of projections 316 and 319 so that the bell cranks, when rotated about their pivots in a manner to be presently described, will slide control bar 366 in opposite directions. A plurality of control function levers indicated 38! and 382 is provided for operating the bell cranks 316 and 318 to effect the responsiveness of the switching function levers 35l to the permutable setting of the code bars 3l6. Although any par-,

ticular function levers of the group indicated 35! may be employed to condition the control bar, specific ones to be identified presently have been selected in this embodiment of the invention. Control function lever 381 is the figure function lever and control function lever 382 is the letters function lever.

When the function levers 351 are held from responding to the permutable setting of the code bars 316, control bar 366 is positioned in its leftward position as viewed in Fig. 3, presenting a blocking tooth 312 beneath each of the function levers exclusive of the figures function lever 38l and letters function lever 3B2. When it is deredto. perform a switching or other function through the agency of the function :bell cranks 3.51, the signal combinationto select thezflgures function lever is set up from theperforated tape in the code :bars 316 in response to which control function lever 38.! is selected and operated about pivot 352 into its extreme counterclockwise position, as viewed in Fig. 6, since there is a notch in the control bar 366 beneath this particular bell crank. In assuming its most counterclockwise position, lever 38I depresses bell crank 318 rocking it in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig, 3 aboutpin 368, and accordingly, the bell crank through its engagement with projection 319 shifts the control bar 366 rightwardly. This positionment of control bar 366 presents a notch under all of the function levers 351 and in this condition the cognizance device permits selective operation of the control or switching function levers 35lin response to subsequent code signal combinations set up in the code bars by the perforated tape.

.When the required switching or..other'functions have been accomplished through the code combinations set up in codebars 3l6subsequent to the cond-itiomnglof the cognizance device, the letters selection combination is set up in the code bars which operates the control function lever 33.2. In operating, control function lever-382 rotates bell crank 316 in a clockwise direction,- as

viewed in Fig. 3,, and through its engagement withproject-ion 311 slides the control bar in a left- Ward direction disabling the function, levers 351 from responsiveness to the subsequent permutable settings of the code bars, until the cognizance device has again been operated in the abovedescribed predetermined manner.

In order to utilize the automaticqswitching mechanism the substation at which a message-is to be originated, transmits in sequence,- the figures signal combination andgthe switching signal combinations. Following the switching signal combinations, the letters function signal combination is transmitted after which the message signal combinations maybe transmitted. At the receivin station these signals are received, recorded; and stored in a tape, transferred to the transmitting distributor and automatic switching mechanism to first condition the switching mechanism for-operation, selectively operate it, and disable it in sequence. The switching signals prec d g themessage signals may set up and desired switching combinations for signal distribution. I

lngEig. 7 there is disclosed a circuit diagram demonstrating one switchingfunction which may readilyzhe performed under the control of code signal combinations stored in a tape and sensed bysensing mechanism 16. The description ofthe retransmitting distributors thus far has brought out the fact that a code signal combination sensed is transmitted or repeated twice; that is, by retransmitting distributor I1 and again, by retransmitti-ng distributor 1.8. Only one of these distributors, however, namely, I3, is associated with the switching mechanism and one practical utility for that switching mechanism-is the determination of the communication channels with which the retransmitting distributor 18 is associated for, the repetition of code signal combinations receivedby the printing reperforator. The circuit of Fig- '1 willacoomplish this purpose.

In the circuitarrangement disclosed there are represented the contacts 354 operated byfour of the function levers 351. It is, of course, to be understood that this; is merely a representative circuit and may.be.-expanded as desired. The

-UCZ to ground.

contacts have been. designated '.UCA, UCB,'U.CC, and UCZ indicating thatlthose contacts which are operated by the signal combinations A, B, C, and Z, respectively, when those signalcombinations are received with the control bar 366 conditioned to render the functionlevers :35I responsive to the permutable settings .of. the code bars 3l6. A plurality of relays 386, 381, and 388'is provided to connect the line L which represents the outgoing conductor from retransmitting distributor I8 selectively to outgoing communication channels 389, 390, and 39! over which the-signals originating in the retransmitting distributor l8' may be repeated to receiving stations A, B, and C, respectively (not shown). 1 y

In describing the circuit operation it will be assumed that a figure signal combination has been conditioned in the switching mechanism H to render the switching levers 35l'selectiv'ely responsive to the operation of code bars 3H5. The signal combination of upper case A will cause the selection and operation of that function lever 35l associated with contacts 354 indicated UCA in Fig. 7. These contacts will be closed completing a circuit from battery through contacts UGA, relay 386, line 392, armature and closed contacts of relay 381, line 393, armature and closed contacts of relay 388, line 394 and closed contacts In the above-defined circuit, contacts UCZ have been identified as normally closed whereas the remaining contacts associated with the function levers 351 are normally opened and are closed upon the selection of their associated function levers. This one contact pair, however, UCZ, is normally closed and is opened upon the selection of the upper case Z function lever. The above-defined circuit energizes relay 386 which draws up its armature and closes a looking or holding circuit including battery, inner left-hand armature and contact of relay 386, winding of relay 386, line 392, closed armature contacts at relays 381 and 388 to line 394 and ground, as recited previously. The holding. circuit which retains the relay 386 energized is effective thereby to retain a circuit connection from line L through operated relay contacts at relay 388 to line 389 which thereby associates the retransmitting distributor with sub-station A over communication channel 389.

In the course of a message to be repeated over channel 389, it frequently happens that the message willinclude signal combinations which represent the figures selection. This, of course, comes about when it is necessary to transmit any upper case characters which ma be included in the message. 'Since the figure selection combination conditions the function levers 35| to be selectively responsive to subsequent code signal combinations established in code bars 3l6, it is desirable to preclude the operation of any function levers from being effective to establish additional switching or communication circuits; that is, it is desirable to maintain the established connection between retransmitting distributor l8 and the selected channel. For this purpose a circuit disabling mechanism is provided and associated with each communication determining relay 386, 381, and 388 to maintain the connection from the retransmitting distributor l1 over a predetermined channel or a selected channel until that channel has been interrupted by the establishment of a dumping signal condition in the switching mechanism.

Continuing with the assumed selection of line 389 connecting the line L from the retransmitting distributor thereover to station A, the operation of this holding device is as follows: with relay 386 ener ized, the two left-hand armatures of the relayestablish the locking circuit for the relay and the connection from the retransmitting distributor to the selected substation, respectively. The two right-hand armatures, however, which normally engage their associated contacts are moved from engagement therewith and disable the energizing circuits to relays 381 and 388 precluding the energization thereof should con tacts USB or UCC beoperated while the selected channel remains in electrical connection with the line L. Assume that contacts UCB are selected and operated, the circuit to relay 381 includes battery, contacts UCB, winding of relay 381, and the extreme right-hand contact and armature of relay 386. The circuit is interrupted at this last point, and accordingly relay 381 will not be energized.

Assume that contacts UCC are selected and operated. The energizing circuit to relay 388 would include battery, contacts UCC, winding of relay 388, closed contacts of relay 391, line 396, and opened contact and armature of relay 386 so that relay 388 will not be energized. In a similar manner it may be demonstrated that if the line L is associated with either of stations B or C, the energized line relay maintaining that association will preclude the operation of either of the remaining relays so long as that selected circuit association maintains.

After the communication over the selected channel; which in the illustration chosen is channel 389, has been completed it is necessary to interrupt that channel and the relay which maintains it to prepare the switching mechanism to operate in response to the next group of switching signal combinations to establish the next communication channel with retransmitting distributor l9. For this purpose, following completion ofthe message signal combination, the figures combination is established in the code bars 316 to assure that the function levers are permitted to respond to the switching signal combinations following which the Z signal combination, which, of course, is the upper case Z, is established in code bars 3l6 whereupon that function'lever associated with contacts UCZ is selected and operated. The operation of this function lever opens contacts UCZ and interrupts the holdingcircuit to relay 386 de-energizing the relay and establishing the normal circuit condition illustrated in Fig. '1. Thereafter, switching may be accomplished through the selection of any of the upper case signal combinations which control the communication channels.

The described circuit illustrates one embodiment of the operation of the switching mechanism and its controlling circuits. The control circuit may be rearranged and modified to permit the selection of more than one communication channel at a time as by cascading the relays. These and other modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art.

The apparatus described provides a flexible retransmitting arrangement which enables various services to be'carried on through the employment of'this apparatusbyLprOViding a plurality of retransmitting distributors. Message signals received in the printing 'reperforator may be repeated over a plurality of communication channels. 'One of those channels may be invariably connected to one of the-retransmitting distributors, such 'as distributor H. A supervising or nel with the remaining distributor.

the features of the automatic switching mecha pmaster station may convenientlybe connected to such 7 a transmitter to supervise :and. study the operation of the apparatus. Any'of a plurality of communication channels, however, may'be associatedwith the remaining distributonthe selection of the particular channel or channels connected therewith being under the control of Sig-- nal combinations established in the codebars '3; of the switching-mechanism. In the event that the message -is1to-be transmitted over. only;

a signal channel, it,-of.course, is merely necessary to disable one of the retransmittingdistributors and associate the desired communication chan- Similarly; if

I mitting' distributor IT and need not 'be carried-on through distributor I8.

"Additional functions may be effected through;

the control of function circuits associated with l. pullbar operated contacts provided-at the print-V ing reperiorator l5. The pull bar-operated contacts 40! are actuated when predetermined :pull

bars 26; provided with contact operating. rprojec tions 402 are selected upon apredeterminedoperation' of; the notched code bars 21. -A preferred association of the pull barand the pull bar oper- 'ated contacts is the subject of copending-application-Serial: No. 405,301, filed under the name of,

Walter J': Zenner.

:The function circuits controlled by the pull bar i-operated contacts-40! are preferably completed r through contact pile up:403, Fig; 4, controlled by themain'operatingplunger:38 of the printing 'face*404 to operate a contact operating. bell crank 406, pivoted on a stud--407iwhich is -secured-t'to a bracket 408 depending from the apparatus casting 2|. A spring 409;eXtended-. between one arm- 1 of-bell crank-400 and bracket 4fl8iurges the bell complish a function through-a circuit associated with a. pair-f pull bar operated contacts-140i, :the associated pull-bar 26 is selected through a predetermined operationof the code bars 2! in response to the received code signal combination characteristic of thelpar-ticular function. Up 1 the :selectionof the pull bar, the contact pair 40| 2 is closed immediately as in a manner fully described-in the rabove-identified application to Zenner. r'Subsequently, :as the printing reperi-forator continues the instant cyclev of operation, ntheimain operatingvplungerc38 is elevated and bell crank'406 which is normally held inn-clockwise position riding upon the high portion of cam surface 404: follows the cam surface'and is rotated by its biasing spring in a counterclockwise,- I direction to a position, illustrated in Fig.- 4, :in

1 which the contact pile-up 403': is. operatedcompletingi the circuit through the; selected; pull bar operated-contact 40I. Near' the completion of "this cycleof operation of the printingr-reperfora-' tor plunger 38 is returned to its lowermostxpositionrot'atingthe'bell crank 406 to its normal clockwise position which opens the contact pile up 403 and disables the function circuit closed through the pull bar operated contacts40l: and the. contact-pileup 403 and finally as the cycleis completed, the=selected pull, bar 26 is returned to its normal position; which opens the contact pair 40I .thr'ough which the function had-been completed. 7 I

--Although a specific. embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in the ldrawingsanddescribed in the specification, tit :is to be understood that the inventionlis not limitedto, such specific r embodiment butvmay be modifiedland rearranged without departing from .Qtherspirit. and l scope v of .the-invention.

iWhatis claimedlis:

1.1 A-telegraph apparatusincluding aplurality of switching function -.lev'ers,-a plurality of coded elements. adapted to be conditioned. to'enable the .selective operation of said functionrlevers and tall-[mechanical means normally dissociated from said-coded elements and effective under th control of signal. indicia on. aicontrol form toucon- -trolthe conditioning of said codedelements and efiectuate the-operation of.-afselected function lever.

2. A telegraph switching mechanism including L25, a plurality ofswitching iunction-leveraa plural- .lity 0f .code. barsxto :be permutably 1 conditioned to -ena-b1e the-selective lop ration of said function .levers; and=all mechanical me ansrnormally, disso- :ciated fromsaidcode barsland effective under thecontrolphsignal indicia 0n=a,contr0l;.fo1n1 to control permutably; the l conditioning ;of. said code x bars and selectively efiectuate the ope ation of-said function'levers.

'--3., In' combination, -.a sensing mechanism to sense cont-rollindiciagon a: st1Iip,-,a plurality-oi code mars; means operable independently ofg said sensing mechanism to transferasettingof said-sens- .ing; mechanism to said code" a s to 'permutably condition said bars in accordance-with the indi- 40 cia-sensed; a; plurality '.-of functiondevers selectivelyresponsive torthesetting of said bars and "means to-v enable the selection. of .said levers to accomplish a function representewby; thelsensed 'indicia. H

r 4.;5A switchin gapparatus. including; a sensing device; having? a: e luralityof-sensing elements .to ;-sensecontrol indiciain a form, a correspondin 1 plurality loft selecting elements, means operable r .independentlyaof said sensingdevice. tocondi- ,tionwsaid:selecting:elements-rim accordance with the qoperation of" said rsensingwelements, ,a; plural- .rityaof switching controlleversyselectively;responrsivet to the 'operation'of saidt-s electing elements, and means to enable the S81E0 liiOXliQf;Saidlevers tmacco-mplislr switching iunctions, I b5; A; signal controlled function: operating mechr anismwcomprisinggas sensin device. tot sense control indiciaiin a -strip;.a -p1urality of selecting elements; means :operable independently of 5 i said 0' sen-sing .ldevice to. condition said elements in, ac-

:cordance with -.the ;operation: of'saidgsensing :de-

vice; function i controllin devers g selectively operablerunder the control of said selecting elements t-to accomplish functions .rep iesentedc-by sensed 5 indicianmeans =t0i selectivelyrender-said function controlling levers responsive to said-selecting. eleriments and means:adapted-toibeselectiyely controlled whereby said function controlling-levers are :operated only in. response .-to function con- 7o tr'ollingiindicia inttheistrip.

(: A signal controlled functionoperating mech- :r.anism: comprising a; sensing :device to;- sense indi- 'ciaxin' a: '-strip,-=.a= plurality, of-ccode bars; means operable independently of said sensing device to condition said bars in permutations in accord- 

